Battle Array of the Persian Forces at the Asopus — Herodotus, Histories Book 9 (9.31.1–9.31.5), Greek & English

§9.31.1

οἱ δὲ ἀμφὶ Μαρδόνιον¹ βάρβαροι ὡς ἀπεκήδευσαν Μασίστιον, παρῆσαν, πυθόμενοι τοὺς Ἕλληνας εἶναι ἐν Πλαταιῇσι, καὶ αὐτοὶ ἐπὶ τὸν Ἀσωπὸν τὸν ταύτῃ ῥέοντα. ἀπικόμενοι δὲ ἀντετάσσοντο ὧδε ὑπὸ Μαρδονίου. κατὰ μὲν Λακεδαιμονίους ἔστησε Πέρσας.

On the other hand, the barbarians under Mardonius, when they had finished mourning for Masistius, arrived, having learned that the Greeks were at Plataea, and came themselves also to the Asopus which flows there. Having arrived, they were drawn up against the enemy by Mardonius in the following manner. Opposite the Lacedaemonians he stationed the Persians.

§9.31.2

καὶ δὴ πολλὸν γὰρ περιῆσαν πλήθεϊ οἱ Πέρσαι, ἐπί τε τάξις πλεῦνας ἐκεκοσμέατο καὶ ἐπεῖχον τοὺς Τεγεήτας. ἔταξε δὲ οὕτω· ὅ τι μὲν ἦν αὐτῶν δυνατώτατον πᾶν ἀπολέξας ἔστησε ἀντίον Λακεδαιμονίων, τὸ δὲ ἀσθενέστερον παρέταξε κατὰ τοὺς Τεγεήτας. ταῦτα δʼ ἐποίεε φραζόντων τε καὶ διδασκόντων Θηβαίων.

Indeed, since the Persians far surpassed them in numbers, they were drawn up in deeper ranks and also covered the front of the Tegeans. He stationed them in this way: picking out all that was strongest among them, he set it opposite the Lacedaemonians, and the weaker part he drew up along the Tegeans. This he did under the instruction and guidance of the Thebans.

§9.31.3

Περσέων δὲ ἐχομένους² ἔταξε Μήδους· οὗτοι δὲ ἐπέσχον Κορινθίους τε καὶ Ποτιδαιήτας καὶ Ὀρχομενίους τε καὶ Σικυωνίους. Μήδων δὲ ἐχομένους ἔταξε Βακτρίους· οὗτοι δὲ ἐπέσχον Ἐπιδαυρίους τε καὶ Τροιζηνίους καὶ Λεπρεήτας τε καὶ Τιρυνθίους καὶ Μυκηναίους τε καὶ Φλειασίους.

Next to the Persians he stationed the Medes; and these covered the front of the Corinthians, Potidaeans, Orchomenians, and Sicyonians. Next to the Medes he stationed the Bactrians; and these covered the front of the Epidaurians, Troezenians, Lepreans, Tirynthians, Mycenaeans, and Phliasians.

§9.31.4

μετὰ δὲ Βακτρίους ἔστησε Ἰνδούς· οὗτοι δὲ ἐπέσχον Ἑρμιονέας τε καὶ Ἐρετριέας καὶ Στυρέας τε καὶ Χαλκιδέας. Ἰνδῶν δὲ ἐχομένους Σάκας ἔταξε, οἳ ἐπέσχον Ἀμπρακιήτας τε καὶ Ἀνακτορίους καὶ Λευκαδίους καὶ Παλέας καὶ Αἰγινήτας.

After the Bactrians he stationed the Indians; and these covered the front of the Hermionians, Eretrians, Styrians, and Chalcidians. Next to the Indians he stationed the Sacae, who covered the front of the Ambraciots, Anactorians, Leucadians, Paleans, and Aeginetans.

§9.31.5

Σακέων δὲ ἐχομένους ἔταξε ἀντία Ἀθηναίων τε καὶ Πλαταιέων καὶ Μεγαρέων Βοιωτούς τε καὶ Λοκροὺς καὶ Μηλιέας τε καὶ Θεσσαλοὺς καὶ Φωκέων τοὺς χιλίους· οὐ γὰρ ὦν ἅπαντες οἱ Φωκέες ἐμήδισαν, ἀλλὰ τινὲς αὐτῶν καὶ τὰ Ἑλλήνων ηὖξον περὶ τὸν Παρνησσὸν κατειλημένοι, καὶ ἐνθεῦτεν ὁρμώμενοι ἔφερόν τε καὶ ἦγον³ τήν τε Μαρδονίου στρατιὴν καὶ τοὺς μετʼ αὐτοῦ ἐόντας Ἑλλήνων. ἔταξε δὲ καὶ Μακεδόνας τε καὶ τοὺς περὶ Θεσσαλίην οἰκημένους κατὰ τοὺς Ἀθηναίους.

Next to the Sacae, opposite the Athenians, Plataeans, and Megarians, he stationed the Boeotians, Locrians, Malians, Thessalians, and the thousand of the Phocians. For indeed, not all of the Phocians sided with the Medes, but some of them helped to increase the power of the Greeks, being penned up around Parnassus, and starting out from there they plundered both the army of Mardonius and those of the Greeks who were with him. He also stationed both the Macedonians and those who dwelt around Thessaly opposite the Athenians.

Syntax notes3 items

9.31.1οἱ δὲ ἀμφὶ Μαρδόνιον
The idiomatic expression 'οἱ ἀμφί + accusative' with a proper name; here it denotes 'Mardonius and his accompanying forces.'
9.31.3ἐχομένους
Present middle participle of the verb ἔχομαι, governing a genitive noun (such as Περσέων), meaning 'clinging to' or 'next to.'
9.31.5ἔφερόν τε καὶ ἦγον
A traditional Greek idiomatic pair combining φέρω ('carry off' inanimate goods) and ἄγω ('drive off' livestock), meaning 'to plunder' or 'to ravage.'

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-05-25)urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0016.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:9.31.1-9.31.5